Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can affect different parts of your urinary tract, including your bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis) or kidneys (kidney infection).
- UTIs can cause significant discomfort
- They can affect both men and women
- They are more common in women
UTI symptoms
The main symptoms of a UTI can include pain or a burning sensation when you pee and needing to go to the toilet more often than usual. Your urine may be cloudy or dark in appearance, or have a strong smell.
You might feel the urge to pee all of a sudden and more than usual. In some cases, there may be blood in your urine, and you may feel pain in your abdomen, back or under the ribs. Your temperature may be high, and you may feel shivery or hot, or you might have a low temperature of below 36˚C.
Children can experience UTIs too. They may show signs of being generally unwell, such as being irritable and not eating properly, and they might also feel hotter than usual, especially on their back, tummy or neck. Some children might be sick, while others may wet themselves or the bed.
The symptoms of a UTI in older people, especially those with memory problems such as dementia, and those with a urinary catheter, can include behaviour changes. These people may also experience incontinence that is worse than usual, as well as shaking or shivering.
UTI causes
In most cases, UTIs are caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract. The bacteria usually enters the body via the tube that passes urine out of the body (the urethra).
Due to the fact that women have a shorter urethra than men, it is more likely that bacteria will pass through to the bladder or kidneys and therefore cause an infection.
There are things that can increase the risk of bacteria entering the bladder and causing a UTI, such as sexual intercourse and pregnancy, as well as conditions like kidney stones that obstruct the urinary tract.
In men, an enlarged prostate can increase the risk of a UTI. This is because this condition makes it more difficult to completely empty the bladder.
People with urinary catheters can be at an increased risk of this type of infection, as can those with conditions that cause a weakened immune system, such as diabetes, or people undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
More generally, not drinking enough fluids or keeping the genital area clean can lead to UTIs.
UTI treatment
At Pharmacy+Health, our fully qualified pharmacists can provide you with the information and advice you need to effectively treat a UTI. These include:
TestCard diagnosis
TestCard offers a quick and reliable way to test for a UTI at home using your mobile phone. It is a type of test strip that is dipped into a urine sample. You would then use the TestCard app on your phone to scan the QR code that’s on the test strip itself. Your results will appear on your phone within a few seconds, giving you an accurate diagnosis of whether or not it’s likely that you have a UTI and if you require treatment.
Nitrofurantion
Nitrofurantoin is a type of antibiotic used to treat UTIs. When taken, nitrofurantoin passes through your body and into your urine. As a result, the medication is concentrated at the site of the infection. Available on prescription from your GP, nitrofurantoin comes as tablets, capsules or a liquid.
Book a UTI pharmacy appointment today
If you are struggling with the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, our pharmacy staff are here to help. Book a consultation appointment to chat to one of our Pharmacy+Health experts for information on how to care for your wellbeing and advice about a range of other health conditions. Each member of our team is a highly qualified healthcare professional who can provide reliable clinical advice and recommend a suitable UTI treatment for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UTIs can sometimes go away on their own, without the need for treatment. However, in some cases if infections are left untreated, they can linger and cause you prolonged pain or discomfort.
If you notice any of the symptoms associated with UTIs, it’s important to speak to a pharmacist. Get in touch with Pharmacy+Health for more details about our urinary tract infection clinic.
Both men and women should drink plenty of water, urinate as soon as possible after sex and fully empty the bladder when urinating. Practise good personal hygiene habits by keeping the genital area clean and dry and avoid using scented soap.
Women should wash the skin around the vagina with water before and after sex. It’s also important to note that when you go to the toilet, you should always wipe from front to back.
Discussing the symptoms of your UTI with healthcare professionals will give you the information you need to get rid of the infection yourself.
Key actions include resting, avoiding sex and drinking plenty of water. Drinking often should make you pee regularly and give you pale urine. You can take paracetamol up to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature.
At Pharmacy+Health, we make it easy for you to access the treatment you need to keep you feeling your best. You can learn more about the cost of UTI treatment at our pharmacy here.